Local News
Man gets 20 years for auto theft leading to chase, manhunt
By Lacie Morrison
lmorrison@mineralwellsindex.com
PALO PINTO – Approximately seven months after being discovered in a house-to-house search in Palo Pinto, a Port Aransas man pleaded guilty to an enhanced felony theft charge.
Jason Howard Auvenshine, 37, pleaded guilty last week to felony theft greater than or equal to $20,000 and less than $100,000. Typically a third-degree felony, the charge was enhanced to a first-degree felony.
Palo Pinto County Assistance District Attorney Kirk Martin explained that Auvenshine’s charge was initially bumped to a second-degree felony because of prior felony convictions.
The district attorney’s office filed an enhancement because of two convictions of burglary of habitations in the 1990s – one in Eastland County and one in Erath County, Martin explained.
Auvenshine pleaded guilty to the initial charge and “true” to the two enhancements. He received 20 years confinement, a $5,000 fine and court costs of $211. Martin said Auvenshine “had some credit for his time in Palo Pinto County Jail” as he’s been under arrest since his apprehension.
In September, Auvenshine stole a Ford F-250 four-wheel drive truck from a gas station at the intersection of U.S. Highway 281 South and Interstate 20 and headed to Palo Pinto on Farm-to-Market Road 4, followed by an undercover officer who was in the area at the time.
Auvenshine drove to Palo Pinto, where he encountered sheriff’s deputies. Attempting to flee, he left the roadway and drove into a resident’s yard, destroying a gatepost, two water hydrants and a tree before hitting a stump.
He fled the scene while his 37-year-old companion, Susan Darlene Cobern, of Port Aransas, was apprehended at the vehicle.
Auvenshine was apprehended later that evening in a lawn mower shed, after a house-to-house search was conducted. Several agencies were called in to assist the search, including the Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Department, county constables, Texas Department of Public Safety, DPS aircraft and the City/County Narcotics Unit.
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Man, woman arrested in drug bust at local bar
Gary Ross Nickols, 56, of Mineral Wells, and Elise Nichole Dalton, 25, of Millsap, were arrested Tuesday around 2:30 p.m. at a bar in the 1600 block of South Oak after Mineral Wells police assisted the City-County Narcotics Unit, reportedly acting on information obtained by CCNU.
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Thursday Blotter - September 2, 2010
The following people were processed through the Palo Pinto County Jail.
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Mineral Wells ISD trustees set 2011 budget, tax rate
Before Mineral Wells ISD's trustees were ready to vote Tuesday on the district's 2011 budget and tax rate, Board President Joe Ruelas repeatedly asked a room full of mostly empty chairs, “Does anybody in the public have any questions ... anyone?”
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Womans Club's first fall meeting this Wednesday
The Womans Club of Mineral Wells will have its first fall meeting Wednesday at the Womans Club Building (old post office) starting at 11:30 a.m.
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Input sought at NRCS conservation meeting
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Palo Pinto County Soil and Water Conservation District invite the public and any agencies with an interest in conservation issues to participate in a local work group meeting Wednesday.
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County Records
Aug. 23-30
County Clerk, Bobbie Smith -
Man involved in bar fight ends up at hospital
A man was transported to the hospital after a fight at a bar in the 2800 block of U.S. Highway 281 South around midnight Sunday, according to police, who provided backup to the Palo Pinto County Sheriff's Office on the call.
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Vietnam War Museum
The annual Friends of the National Vietnam War Museum spring fundraiser this year will be a fall fundraiser.
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Ram Band
The Mineral Wells Ram Band Fan Club is pleased to offer the opportunity to sponsor the 2010 Rams football program.
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Helping sell baked goodies
Lorean Weldon and Betty Keller help sell baked goodies Friday afternoon at Palo Pinto Nursing and Rehab.
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Man, woman arrested in drug bust at local bar
